Book Launch Guest Post by Alistair Tosh, Author of The Sons of Carthage: Hannibal ignites a war to humble Rome... (The Lion and the Eagle Roman Thrillers Book 1)

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Two empires rise, but only one can survive…

Hasdrubal Barca: The Forgotten General

In 219 BC, Hannibal Barca, the renowned Carthaginian general, attacked Seguntum, a city allied with Rome on the eastern coast of Iberia, just north of modern-day Valencia. The siege triggered the Second Punic War, one of the greatest conflicts of the ancient world.

Hannibal's story has become legendary. His campaigns are still studied in military academies across the world, from his epic march across the Pyrenees and the mighty Alpine passes to his stunning victories over the Roman legions at Ticinus, Trebia, Lake Trasimene and, perhaps greatest of all, Cannae. There, Rome suffered one of the worst defeats in its history, with around 50,000 soldiers lying dead on the battlefield from an army of approximately 80,000.

Yet while Hannibal was devastating the Roman Republic in Italy, another theatre of the war was proving just as crucial. Iberia—modern-day Spain and Portugal—was Carthage's most valuable possession. It was rich in silver and gold, fertile agricultural land, and provided a vital source of recruits for its armies.

For most of the twelve years that the war raged across the peninsula, its defence rested in the hands of Hannibal's younger brother, Hasdrubal. The central figure in my new series, The Lion and the Eagle, Hasdrubal was a capable commander in his own right. Not only did he have to contend with the Roman legions, but he also faced near-constant rebellions from the many fierce Iberian tribes. 

At one point, despite the threat of the legions, he was recalled to North Africa by the Carthaginian Senate to suppress the revolt of the Numidian king Syphax, before returning to Iberia a year later. There he, once more, faced the Roman Consuls, Publius and Gnaeus Scipio, defeating them in separate engagements and restoring Carthaginian control.

Although he has never enjoyed the reputation of his elder brother as a battlefield genius, Hasdrubal was a resourceful and resilient general. Even in defeat, and there were several setbacks during his long command, he repeatedly managed to extricate himself and preserve the core of his army, allowing Carthage to continue the struggle.

His final campaign in Iberia culminated at Baecula, Santo Tomé in the Guadalquivir valley of modern-day Andalusia. There he faced the young Publius Cornelius Scipio, the future Scipio Africanus, who would later defeat Hannibal at Zama.

Recognising the quality of the Roman army opposing him, Hasdrubal established a strong defensive position on high ground overlooking the valley, where there was only one practical avenue of attack. When Scipio launched a surprise assault that overwhelmed his forward positions, Hasdrubal conducted a disciplined fighting withdrawal, escaping with the majority of his army intact.

The following year, he led that same army across the Alps into Italy, recruiting warriors from the Gallic tribes along the way in a bold attempt to reinforce Hannibal and alter the course of the war.

Overshadowed by his famous brother, Hasdrubal Barca remains one of history's forgotten generals. Through The Lion and the Eagle series, I hope to bring this remarkable commander, and his extraordinary campaigns, to a wider audience.

Alistair Tosh

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About the author

Best selling author of historical adventures, Alistair Tosh was born in Dumfriesshire, a place filled with ancient place names such as Torthorwald and Caerlaverock. But it was his visits, as a boy, to nearby Burnswark Iron Age hillfort and its Roman siegeworks that first fired his interest in ancient history. On leaving school he began a 35 year communications career, firstly with the Royal Navy, that included covert riverine and seaborne operations during the height of ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland, before moving into the corporate telecommunications world. Military life is unique, and Alistair aims to reflect an authentic view of that experience and its language in his stories. Follow Alistair on Facebook and Twitter/X @alistair_tosh